Sutton signs Burlington for Harlem retail complex

Burlington Coat Factory has made the first commitment to Jeff Sutton’s planned Harlem retail center at Lenox Avenue and 125th Street, the New York Post reported, and a second high-profile deal could be on the way. In addition to the 70,000-square-foot lease Burlington signed, via broker Cliff Simon of CNS Real Estate, sources told the Post that Whole Foods’ accidentally leaked Harlem expansion is targeting the ground and lower levels of Sutton’s site.

Burlington’s 15-year lease for the third through fifth floors would net Sutton $60 million over the course of the deal (note: correction appended).

That would leave the second floor as the lone vacant one in the 180,000-square-foot project at 100 West 125th Street, which won’t break ground until this fall and won’t open until at least late 2013. NFL legend Emmitt Smith had once intended to build a hotel on the site with a retail component that was also reportedly trying to bring in Whole Foods. [Post, 1st item]